Congratulations! This bill is the best one to get, as it's the last one!

My frieng got it in 2 months (Zurich)

It's interesting the effect that COVID has had on the statistics. I was able to find the figures for the 11months Jan-Nov 2019 and Jan-Nov 2020. In 2019, there were 35'800 normal citizenships granted, in 2020 there were only 30'300. Kt Zürich has dropped by 25% (8000 in this period 2019 vs 6000 in 2020).

These statistics only indicate the number of citizenship grants, not applications. I wouldn't be surprised if this has increased.

Well, it's been 2 weeks and I still haven't got the 500chf bill from the Kanton.. How long should I wait before contacting them?

I would probably give them at least a month before following up. Maybe things are operating more slowly with work from home?

Just a warning that the initial step in Kt. Zurich (Gemeindeamt -> Confirmation from the Gemeindeamt -> Sending docs to Gemeinde) takes now much longer due to Covid.

July-August 2020 -> KDE/Grundkenntnistest/Other-docs
beginning of September 2020 -> Sent docs to Gemeindeamt
end-of-November 2020 -> Confirmation from the Geminedeamt
end-of-January 2021 -> Docs sent to my Gemeinde

Possibly, but isn't the forwarding to the SEM dependent on payment of this fee? I'll confess I'm getting impatient in the "home stretch"

It is longer, but not so much longer than my timeline in 2019. Keep in mind government departments were closed 24.12.20 until 4.1.21

Just to contribute with my own timeline:

04.01.2019 Application sent
22.06.2019: “send us copy of wife’s permit, an innocence declaration, phone number, email address and 550chf”
25.06.2019: required papers sent
02.07.2019: “thank you, we’re pushing the application to the commune”
03.07.2019: “Hi this is commune. We will be scheduling an interview. Stay tuned and study here”
12.08.2019: “Hi commune, I am moving on the 15th”
24.01.2020: email “send us your CV (where you have lived)
27.01.2020 “Send us CV, poursuite, permit, taxes, attestation du travail, last 3 salary slips. We will want 250chf later. Your rapport d enquete is in March 28 and interview May 12”
01.02.2020: papers sent
17.03.2020: your rapport d’enquete is cancelled cause Covid
24.04.2020: your test is cancelled cause Covid
13.05.2020: your rapport d’enquête is on June 18
18.06.2020: rapport d’enquête done
18.06.2020: your knowledge test is on Sept 1 at 14:30
07.08.2020: pay us 250CHF
01.09.2020: Knowledge test done, 48/48, 5 min
03.09.2020: Communal part is closed, you can now move within Switzerland
16.09.2020: Confirm your personal details and validate you’re married
16.09.2020: confirmation sent
20.10.2020: you are now conditionally lausannois, communal part is over.
02.11.2020: hi this is canton, we got the ok from the commune, we’re pushing the application to Conseil d’Etat
18.01.2021: SEM bill, pay us 100 CHF

Sure,

I wonder now if my interview will be in Q1 or Q2. Looking at the timelines for the Kanton it can be anything between 2 weeks and 8 months into the future. Let's hope my Gemeinde is on the faster end of the spectrum.

Here you are well and truly at the mercy of the Gemeinde. On one side the new mandatory home office rules could slow things down, but on the other hand it seems that even local government here is getting savvy with Zoom et al Hope you don't have to wait 10 months like I did!

P.S. My Kt. bill for 500chf just arrived, payment could be measured in milliseconds...

Hello,

my application was recently sent by Kt. Zurich to the Gemeinde. I have now a letter informing me that at some point in the future I will be invited for an interview (where I must show my knowloedge of history, society, geography and politics). I was hoping I would skip that (with Covid and Swiss Uni diplomas). Do you know when I can expect this invitation ? (Because I'm not at home for long periods and "einige Monate" is a bit vague).

Thank you

Why don't you go to the office and ask?

Personally I've found that it generally helps if officialdom can somehow put a face to you rather than seeing you as an anonymous dossier. So it helps to chit chat a bit and remember a couple of names.

What do you mean? Are you often out of the country for extended periods of time? I'd be careful about deliberately spending a lot of time away, and I'd be extra careful to avoid getting stuck outside the country when you have a naturalization application pending.

At risk of sounding like like a broken record, you are at the COMPLETE mercy of the Gemeinde. Stadt Zürich tends to dispense with interviews for CH-grad or post grads, but not necessarily the other Gemeindes. I got such a letter in Dec 19, but didn't get clarity until August 20...there was NOTHING I could do but be patient.


As 3wishes says, you need to be present during the process or you may find yourself back at square 1.

Thanks
I have a 2nd residence at the other side of the country. I'm doing the trip every week but will soon start to work from home and from experience, the post office does not cope very well with frequent change of adresses.

Hi Jurai_007,

Thanjs again for your detailed post.
What does it mean: 03.09.2020: Communal part is closed, you can now move within Switzerland?
Could you not move befofe?
Also, I was advised by some people from the Forum to update my civil status records before I place my application for naturalisation , I wrote to the Civil registery office and asked them how I could do that. Unfortunately, according to them, they don't know what docs might be required therefore I have to apply first and wait

I want to make sure I understand you correctly: You are applying for citizenship in town X (Kt. ZH) but will actually be residing in the mountains in Town Y in the Alps somewhere?



If this is the case, you will be playing with fire, unless you do so only after the Kt give you written permission to move (only after the Gemeinde approval is obtained). You are reminded in nearly every piece of correspondence that you need to notify them of an change of address or civil status. If it is ever discovered you haven't been up front, your application can be revoked or in worst case, granted citizenship can be withdrawn.



I understand you are intelligent (at least 1 Uni diploma), but this is not a process worth trying to outsmart.

__________________
So sayeth the 'Speed
* I do look like my avatar

I have permissions from all gemeindes.
There is nothing dodgy, it’s just that communication by traditional mail is not ideal in my case.

Unfortunately at this stage you can't avoid the snail mail, at least not until the process goes digital in 2022. But by that time you'll probably be fairly advanced.